The Cardinal Way

Growing up, my father taught my brother and I that most of the things we have to do in our lives fall into three “to do” categories. He classified our daily tasks as things we “have to do,” “ought to do,” and “want to do.” He would say that there are very few things in life we “have to do,” and as we (my older brother and I) become men with purpose, we would find that there would be fewer “want to do” items in our lives. He taught us that the “ought to do” items would be the ones that define us. There are many things in the pursuit of being a great man that you “ought to do,” but most find they do not do them because they are unwilling to sacrifice the “want to do” items in their lives. The “ought to do” items in our lives are those that help us live a life of service and help us give to others more than we take for ourselves.

There is a great difference in life between what we need and what we want. Just like there is a great difference between the things we “have to do,” “ought to do,” and “want to do.”

You choose your path; you choose your actions. Every second, every day, we are making choices. How you collectively spend your time each day matters over time. You can make excuses about your circumstances, but often your circumstances arise because you have made many small choices that lead you there.

Ok, but what about situations we really cannot control? Those things that happen to us that push us in a different direction or negatively impact us... We must ask ourselves: Do those things happen “to us,” or do they happen “for us?” Even in bleak and grim situations, you can still choose your attitude. You can decide how to respond. It is still a choice. You do not have to respond in a negative way to negative situations. It is your choice to do so, and if it is your choice, you can pick your reaction.

Nothing can prevent us from learning and becoming better. In fact, difficult situations are often opportunities for new kinds of learning, even if they are not the kinds of learning we would have preferred. One of our highest responsibilities as educators is to help equip those we serve with this mentality.

Be a Cardinal; Change Lives; Put a Mission into Motion

Thank you to:

• Jacki Richardson, Sam Hanely, and Austin Lundsford for helping to organize the Memorial Service for Kim Roberts this coming Monday.
• Athletics and all our works for their help in hosting the Tip-Off Classic last weekend!
• Jessi Walpole for having the Dance Team perform at half-time of four different games during the Tip-Off Classic.

Week 18: Grateful Friday Challenge

You did it!! CONGRATULATIONS!! World's Best Teachers! Tis' Friday!… and it's the last Friday of the year (well, of the school year- so close enough)! We are about to put a bow on the 2022 Fall Semester, and wow, doesn't that feel nice? I feel like when we get to this part of the school year, and we should have a firework-like celebration; perhaps the holiday lights count- and I should count my blessings. We’ve done it. We’ve made it to the last month of the semester. We are about to flip the calendar to 2023 and leave the craziness of 2022 behind. I think we have learned a lot of lessons in the past two years, a lot about teaching and education, a lot about students and empathy and apathy, and a lot about ourselves. We only have three more days with students after today, and honestly, it feels like December would never get here, but here we are. That in itself is something to celebrate.

It feels like when we get into this time of year; we go into turbo mode - we rush and rush, we try to cover one last topic, we try to make one last push to get kids a credit, we are on high alert for the hi-jinx that comes with teaching (or at this point rangeling) high schoolers. Sometimes we forget that in all the craziness that this time of year brings, some positives and wins happen along the way.

Today, let’s focus on, and celebrate, those positives as we wind down the semester! Before you leave today, your #SHSGFC is to write down or make a mental list of 7-73 things that you did well this semester (obviously, if you have more than 73, keep going). There have been struggles, but there have also been important reasons to celebrate. It is essential to pay attention to all the good things that we make happen each day. Sometimes taking the time to notice the small things can make the most significant difference in our attitudes and lives!

Wins for the semester:

1. We haven’t given up…

2. We have just over a week and a half to go until break…

3. (this is where you take over….)

With banners flying as we go…

Mr. Jamriska's freshman English students created splatter paintings to represent a quote and the mental/emotional mindset of Ishmael Beah, from the story they read in class, A Long Way Gone, Memoirs of a Boy Solider, surrounding their chosen quote. After the painting was complete, students analyzed their own painting and evaluated what their various colors and patterns represented and how those colors, color patterns in a critical analysis writing piece.

Mrs. Brunsell's Environmental Science students are wrapping up their PBL unit on Indiana's impact on the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Students had to research how they could make an impact on this issue and then put that research into action. Each group not only had to create a suggestion, but they had to put their suggestion into action. Some students developed personal changes in their lives and others reached out to legislators about issues or laws that would make an impact. The students presented their final projects this week in class.

Mrs. Brennan's photography students are preparing for their final portfolio. Students spent time in class putting together their plans for their final project. Students had to complete a planning document with the needed information, where they would find or take photos, and a timeline for the next week on when they would commit to completing each part of the portfolio.

Mrs. Hendrix-Evans had a guest speaker in her ASL classes this week. Rebecca Buchan from LUNA, an interpreting agency, came and spoke to the students about the importance of ASL and interpreting. She was also able to share with students what career opportunities and work in the field looks like for ASL interpreters.

Mr. Cissell School to Career students are wrapping up their final work for this semester's class. Students were able to listen to a guest speaker, Mr. Daniel Bortner, Director of the Indiana DNR & a member of Governor Holcomb's cabinet, share his thoughts and experience in what it takes to be successful in the workforce. Students then worked to complete their resumes and cover letter along with a final reflection paper for the semester. Students are also setting up 15-minute interviews with Mr. Cissell to apply for the program again during the second semester.

Ms. Fleck's students in Human and Social Services II have been learning about empathy/perspective and the importance of this skill not only in their everyday lives but also as a key part of the Human Services career field. As part of the unit, Ms. Fleck challenged the students to complete a random act of kindness each day and report back to class. They have been doing this for a week now, and they have recorded each act of kindness on a link which is added to a paper chain and hanging in my classroom. The students have embraced this challenge. The class has racked up 350+ random acts of kindness as the paper chain looped its way around the classroom.

Website: http://websites.msdpt.k12.in.us/sh/
Location: 971 E Banta Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United States
Phone: 317-789-4800
Twitter: @SHS_Cardinals